Lane County’s “Simplify the Holidays” campaign hopes to help residents and businesses reduce food waste during the holiday season—and ease the financial burden of high inflation.

Over the past year, U.S. food prices have risen more than 10 percent, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index (CPI). This data presents real challenges for people coming together during the holidays. Food waste only exacerbates the issue.
 

For example:

• ReFed estimated that 305 million pounds of Thanksgiving food were thrown out in 2022.
• Environmentally, producing this food generates more than 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, the same as driving 169,000 cars for an entire year.
• The Lane County Solid Waste Management Plan lists food waste as the county’s highest individually categorized part of the waste stream at nearly 18 percent.
   

“Putting food on the table is not easy for many of our friends and neighbors,” said Daniel Hiestand, Lane County waste reduction outreach coordinator. “Fortunately, curbing food waste in households and businesses can dramatically help ease this burden.”

In addition to the Simplify the Holidays website (simplifytheholidays.org)—which has information on curbing food waste—Lane County’s Eat Smart, Waste Less website (eatsmartwasteless.tips) lists tips and tools to help people realize food waste savings.

“Both websites can help Lane County residents,” Hiestand said. “Visitors can learn food shopping, storage, and preparation skills. It’s good for the wallet and the planet. A holiday win-win.”

About WasteWise Lane County
WasteWise Lane County offers education, tools, and resources that residents, schools, and businesses can use to reduce waste, conserve resources, and live more sustainably. Learn more at facebook.com/WasteWiseLaneCounty.

About Simplify the Holidays
Simplify the Holidays is an award-winning program of the Center for Biological Diversity. Aligned with our belief in the interconnectedness of human life with nature, Simplify the Holidays seeks to empower individuals and families to be more conscious of the impacts of holiday traditions and, in doing so, reconnect with meaningful and lasting celebrations. Learn more at simplifytheholidays.org.

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